Madagascar pre-qualifies bidders for 25-MW solar tender

March 1 (Renewables Now) - The Republic of Madagascar has shortlisted six candidates that will take part in a competitive bidding for a 25-MW solar project, according to an announcement on Wednesday by World Bank Group's Scaling Solar programme.

Through the tender, the African island nation is seeking developers willing to construct a photovoltaic (PV) park near its capital of Antananarivo. The auction includes battery storage requirements in addition to solar generation.

Madagascar’s Ministry of Water, Energy and Hydrocarbons (MEEH) has pre-qualified Acciona Energia SAU, a unit of Spanish utility Acciona SA (BME:ANA), a tie-up between UAE-based Al Nowais Investments LLC and Aldwych Power Holdings Ltd, as well as Globeleq Africa Holdings Ltd and US geothermal energy firm Ormat Technologies Inc (NYSE:ORA). Two more consortiums, one between engineering group GreenYellow SAS and sugarcane company Omnicane Ltd and another between Mulilo Group Holdings Pty Ltd and French renewable power plants operator Voltalia SA (EPA:VLTSA), will also have the right to participate in the final bidding.

MEEH issued a request for pre-qualification (RfQ) for the project in October 2017, which was followed by a request for proposals (RfP). The pre-qualified developers will now submit final offers, which will be assessed based on the lowest proposed tariff.

The tender adds to Scaling Solar tenders in Zambia and Senegal and Ethiopia. The Madagascar auction is the first one including a battery storage component.

Veselina Petrova is one of SeeNews Renewables most experienced green energy writers. For several years she has been keeping track of game-changing events both large and small projects and across the globe.